Embellished minimalism or pared back-decadence are phrases that both came to mind as Stella McCartney’s Paris fashion week show opened and rolled on. Both are oxymorons I know, yet it seems necessary to pair contradictory words when coming to terms with a collection that overlays an effectively minimalistic silhouette with a jacquard pattern.

Keen to drive home her English twee branding it wasn’t just jacquard patterns that disturbed Stella McCartney’s structured approach to fall / winter 2012, and tweeds had their necessary airing. Oddly enough (though it’s not so odd when you consider that there’s an sports fashion trend in the air), McCartney drove home her tale of contrasts by embellishing the tweeds with the elasticised collars and hems you’d expect to find on varsity jackets.

There was one greater contrast though and that was the collection’s overall feel. It felt, and still feels, somehow mature. As if the clothes, particularly the two-piece knit suits, don’t so much have classic appeal as they do age the wearer. There were the exceptions, take a peek at Cara Delevingne’s two piece look as an example, but on the whole it was a runway that had the air of young women wearing clothes intended for people well outside their age group.

You can see all of the Stella McCartneyautumn (fall) / winter 2012 runway collection by clicking on a thumbnail on the left. From there you can browse through each of the pictures from the fashion show.